Runes as sources of elements for spells

Makers of Award-winning Role Playing Games › Forums › Arcanis: The Shattered Empires › Arcanis: Rules & Rulings › Runes as sources of elements for spells

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 41 total)
1 2 3
  • Author
    Posts
  • April 6, 2014 at 8:46 pm #151144
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Greetings,

    Which of the runes can be used as sources of elements for the purposes of spells? I expect only the ones that actually are engulfed in flame do, but wanted to confirm.

    Fire – the description says that the blade is alight so I expect that counts
    Frost – while an argument can be made for water, it simply says that the blade is cold. I expect it doesn’t count.
    Stone – probably works as a source for earth as a wand as it gives any earth spells cast with the rune a bonus to damage. I’m not sure if it would apply for any of the others though.
    Nier – should be a source of fire as the blade is engulfed in flame
    Fire Dragon – As Nier

    With a sweep of his hat,

    Paul

    April 6, 2014 at 8:51 pm #261528
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    My understanding is that spells which require a source of a particular element use up the element with the casting. If that is true, I’m not sure if runes would be able to produce a source enough to power a spell.

    John

    April 6, 2014 at 8:59 pm #261529
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I have seen nothing in the rules which say a rune functions as a source of an element in the rules. It has been said that using a source for a spell uses UP the source. If the runes are allowed as a source, it would deactivate the rune, needing you to reactivate it every time you cast from it.

    April 6, 2014 at 9:05 pm #261530
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    John, Cody, understood. I hadn’t remembered about the source being used up. I’m fine with runes not counting or effectively snuffing out the flames and needing to be reactivated. Just need to pass along the answer to someone else.

    With a sweep of his hat,

    Paul

    April 6, 2014 at 9:07 pm #261531
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It has been said that using a source for a spell uses UP the source.

    Do you have a reference for this? If true, it would be a pretty large impediment to any casters who can’t use themselves as a source. I fully understand needing a fire/torch to cast a fire spell, but only being able to use that source once would be rough.

    How many ticks to re-light a torch? \":P\"

    April 6, 2014 at 9:12 pm #261532
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It was most recently mentioned in response to questions around “Solidify Water”. James wasn’t sure if it was for all spells but at least that one used the source.

    I recall, but can’t quote, this being mentioned on previous boards as well. Someone else may have an appropriate quote or perhaps it never made it into ‘official standing’.

    John

    April 6, 2014 at 10:37 pm #261533
    frootsnax
    Participant

    Solidify water is supposed to use up its source as a limitation on an otherwise very potent control spell. To my knowledge other sources are not consumed with casting … though I don’t necessarily object to that ruling either.

    Either way I have seen human Nierites using torches as a fire source. I see no reason why a flaming sword wouldn’t work.

    April 8, 2014 at 2:03 am #261554
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Solidify Water has had some “tweaking” done to it… and it does not specifically use up its source

    I rather limit the spells usefulness then move to “spell components” as some balancing mechanic

    April 8, 2014 at 9:10 pm #261575
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    ah but Pedro i was looking forward to using other people as water sources… Do you have a write up of what that spell is going to look like? I would be interested to see what you came up with!

    ~T

    April 8, 2014 at 9:35 pm #261576
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Pedro (or other PCI rules virtuosos): Does an elemental spell use up a source if using–say–a waterskin or torch? How does this work for–say–a fire rune?

    April 8, 2014 at 10:00 pm #261577
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    right now you onlyneed to have acces to an element, it does not use up said element.

    there _was_ a change to solidify water that “used up” the water source but afaik thats the only spell that was changed to do that

    April 8, 2014 at 10:39 pm #261578
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I also remember a ruling back in the day about using a torch to cast a fire spell using up the torch, hence the question.

    April 9, 2014 at 8:14 am #261586
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    This one is a bit of a conundrum. Since we are talking (basically) about only Fire/Water spells. (I, personally, rule that you need access to dirt or unworked stone to cast earth spells and if you do not have access to air then you have a bigger problem than not being able to cast spells)

    IMHO, i think elemental spells should use up the source (or prtion thereof, depending on size). Otherwise, being a source of your chosen element becomes a lot less impressive.

    April 9, 2014 at 10:41 am #261587
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    This one is a bit of a conundrum. Since we are talking (basically) about only Fire/Water spells. (I, personally, rule that you need access to dirt or unworked stone to cast earth spells and if you do not have access to air then you have a bigger problem than not being able to cast spells)Removing access to air from a player isn’t that hard. It all depends on how it is imagined flavor wise. One could say that since you don’t have access to open air, an enclosed space such as a tight corridor or room, or deep underground, one might not have access to the air element. Or if the area is completely filled with a fog effect, the magical “air” my not count as a source.

    IMHO, i think elemental spells should use up the source (or prtion thereof, depending on size). Otherwise, being a source of your chosen element becomes a lot less impressive.You could always use up the earth underneath your opponent’s feet. \";)\"

    April 9, 2014 at 11:50 am #261588
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    While it would be cool to say your source is extinguished or used up (and in fact I quoted this earlier in the thread), I think it introduces more questions/concerns than it solves.

    The spells aren’t transferring the element from one place to another (The fire isn’t moving from the source of fire to your opponent). By allowing (or requiring) elements to be ‘used up’ it begs the question of what happens in that space (as noted above, can you use the earth beneath someone’s feet?).

    It seems to me that just having the element nearby as ‘inspiration’ or to provide the necessary energy is sufficient. A minimum amount makes sense (about 1 cubic foot, so that a single match doesn’t work for fire and a small vial doesn’t work for water).

    That said, I feel that the sources *should* be natural and not magical (So lighting a fire sword won’t provide fire as it’s magical fire without a ‘source’. This is just opinion, but it does go towards making those people for whom are their own source a little bit special, while not making it a chore to cast the spells you want or need to cast.

    John

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 41 total)
1 2 3
  • The forum ‘Arcanis: Rules & Rulings’ is closed to new topics and replies.